Fullerton’s Cappies Critic Team- consisting of theatre and journalism students- watched South Coast Repertory’s outstanding production of  “Once”  on Sept. 15. Olivia Kehoe, Melanie Pinzon, Myah Phillips, Allison Park, Sydney Castiglione, Timothy Coleman, Adam Rooney and Jamie Ma, representing the Cappies Team, watch, discuss and write critic reviews on high school plays and musicals with the chance of being published on the Orange County Register website.

As the white spotlight shines center stage, an ordinary guy strums his guitar with his eyes closed, singing an original ballad, unaware that a girl watches him in awe. This atypical encounter sparks the heartwarming relationship between “Girl” and “Guy” in South Coast Repertory’s production of “Once,” a musical about two young adults’ journey towards following their dreams (and love for each other), despite cultural differences.

An obvious show standout, Amanda Leigh as Girl, captivates the audience with her witty humor and vivacious personality. Leigh plays a lively Czech woman with a young daughter who pushes Guy to follow his musical aspirations, despite his initial decision to quit playing music forever. Her singing talent is evident through faultless pitch, vibrato, and even the thick Czech accent she projects with apparent ease. Along with powerful vocals, she conveys not only distraught pain through her piano playing, but creates a dynamic story through each individual note and lyric.

At first impression, Rustin Cole Sailors as Guy is a one-dimensional cliche. Suffering from heartbreak, he vows to never sing again, symbolically abandoning his beloved guitar on the concrete floor. However, Sailors effortlessly depicts Guy’s growth from a lost and self-loathing Irish man, into a confident musician unafraid to dive into the future and the unknown.

Sailors as Guy and Leigh as Girl- although unnamed and virtually unknown to the world- create powerful identities for themselves, finding true love and purpose despite it all.